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Senator warns HHS reorganization and cuts could hurt Alaska programs including LIHEAP and NIOSH marine safety
Summary
A senator said proposed HHS reorganizations and budget cuts risked undermining programs that serve Alaska’s vulnerable residents, naming LIHEAP, NIOSH’s marine safety center and Head Start; the HHS secretary offered to follow up and seek solutions.
A senator raised concerns that the Department of Health and Human Services’ reorganization and proposed budget reductions could damage programs serving Alaska’s most vulnerable residents, citing the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, NIOSH’s marine safety work and Head Start.
“I wanna talk a little bit about the HHS reorganization on some of the programs that, impact, Alaska’s most vulnerable populations,” the senator said, adding that several proposed reductions “have significant consequences to a state like mine.” He said LIHEAP is “not a budget line item” for Alaska and that the program “keeps people from freezing to death in their homes.”
The senator also said staff at the NIOSH Center for Marine Safety and Health Studies received reduction-in-force notices that were not rescinded, and warned that staffing cuts there “could effectively leave our fishing fleet out of compliance with coast guard safety regs.” He said he will chair the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to examine HHS tribal programs that fall outside the Indian Health Service and asked HHS staff to monitor the issues.
The HHS secretary responded, “You should talk to me about that…let’s work for a solution,” offering to follow up on the NIOSH staffing concern and other programmatic impacts.
The senator urged that Head Start funding be preserved and strengthened so children remain as healthy as possible amid reorganization plans. The exchange concluded with the senator pressing for attention to Alaska-specific consequences and the secretary agreeing to further discussion and staff engagement.
Next steps: the senator said he would convene oversight work through the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to review tribal-related HHS programs outside IHS; HHS indicated it would follow up with the senator and staff to explore solutions.
